Child Discipline for $ !/2 year Old

[sonalijk]

My son is 4 1/2 year old.His teachers are complaining regularly that my son does not sit in one place for more time and he is very restless.If they are strict to him he answers back.They punish him almost everyday by making him stand outside the classroom. He is very sensitive by nature and feels hurt but instead of following teacher's rules he is developing more and more dislike for her.I try to motivate him saying that she loves you wants you to become best,etc. But next day again when the teacher punishes him, the story repeats.
I requested the teacher to use some alternative techniques but they wish to stick to their traditional way of discipline. How do I reduce my son's restlessness?

[mjmom69]

My nephew went thru something like this. His preschool teacher tried to tell my sister that she thought he might have ADHD! She isn't a doctor and we were shocked at her insistence that my sister take him to the doctor. Of course the doctor said he was fine, just a little boy, but the teacher didn't let it go right away. My sister was so upset. We knew he didn't have ADHD but to have a teacher insist there was something wrong was terrible. The grandson of a lady I work with had the same thing happen. Again, the teacher was wrong. They are both doing very well now in kindergarten and are very bright, they just don't like to sit still for long periods. I would try talking to the teacher again if you aren't comfortable with the way he is being treated and if that doesn't work, certainly look into other schools if possible. Good luck.

[adgal]

There is an awful lot of information starting to come out about the situations in the public schools and boys.  Tiredbuthappy would know a lot more about this then I being a teacher, but we have had a lot of media attention on this where I live (I'm in Canada) and having a boy myself, it worries me.

Basically, what is being said is that boys naturally have a tougher time sitting still for long periods then girls (this of course is not true for every boy or girl, it's all based on averages).  So with the doing away of a lot of the physical excercise kids used to get at school, the boys are having a tougher time of it.  It's a theory on why so many boys are being diagnosed with add and adhd, etc.  Classes are super overcrowded, teachers aren't given the resources to provide physical excercise, and boys have a tough time sitting still that long.  My son is still little and not yet in school, but I cannot even imagine him being able to sit still for any extended period of time.  Maybe what your son needs is more physical activity?  Again, I am not expert, but the theory made a lot of sense to me.

In any event, I would be livid if the school did that to my child.  It seems rather cruel to me.  

[Sandman2]

     You don't put a 4 and a half year old kid outside of the classroom.  But I am curious as to what grade he is in?  He is too young for kindergarten, is this some kind of preschool?

[skepticalpeach]

Most little kids won't sit still for very long, that's why most schools incorporate a lot of ways for kids to learn while they are playing. My DD doesn't like to sit still either at school and I was told that the worst thing the school could do was force her to sit down. She actually takes in a lot of info while observing from the side. We've noticed her repeating the information she learned back at us at home. There are plenty of schools out there that would be willing to work with him in a way that he would like. Like the other two said, it may be time to start looking for a new school.

[tiredbuthappy]

you can solve this by finding a new school! This is not an appropriate discipline technique. It is old fashioned and ineffective for most children.
What they are doing is isolating and humiliating, and does not teach the child empathy or problem solving which are both things children need to learn in order to regulate their own behavior.

[margypops]

It doesn't sound as if the teacher is handling the situation very well and it will make him feel bad to be standing outside in punishment.They sound very strict ,as you have spoken to them and they will not be more lenient I suggest you find another school more accommodating to small children's behaviors .Good luck